I'm pretty sure linux has multi-threading, and has had it for a very long time.

Quoted from Monkeybug

As for the specific router, I haven't confirmed, but I believe you don't need the 'L'(inux) version to get it going. DD-WRT is the solution.  

I have been emailing Jim back and forth and regarding the router. Here is what his comment was which is good news.

"In theory you can run any open sourced router with any version software as long as you add the command for the ttl mod as specified on my site and configure as a client to your main router."

"The ttl mod is the important part as this is a work around for a limitation of the original williams game code."

Jim has been great at assisting with the setup.

I had the networking almost set up using a (piece of sh*t) Linksys wrt54g and micro dd-wrt.  Jim had sent me his bin file, which I loaded onto the router.  This bricked it and made the router useless.  I have since got another one but have not had the time to play around with it.

And yes, Jim is very helpful in answering questions.  He helped me on a few spots as well.

Quoted from Monkeybug

I had the networking almost set up using a (piece of sh*t) Linksys wrt54g and micro dd-wrt.  Jim had sent me his bin file, which I loaded onto the router.  This bricked it and made the router useless.  I have since got another one but have not had the time to play around with it.

And yes, Jim is very helpful in answering questions.  He helped me on a few spots as well.

That config file was for a GL, note the WARNING at the bottom of the window. I will write a new config file once I have it set up for the G Version 8.0 only! It is a matter of configing it and saving the config file here in the Admin area.

Have you tried pinging the router with the command Start -> Run -> typing cmd then typing ping -t 192.168.1.1?

If it can be pinged than you may be able to TFTP the proper file to it right after power up. It may take up to 5 times to take the file I have read. If not it's probably only going to be recoverable through JTAG'ing it.

If you want bring it to the tournament and I will see if I can bring it back to life and load it up for you.



Thanks Claude. It's a really good game and at least I am finding it challenging to get to "Attack Mars". The journey getting there is fun all the way.

I didn't want to permanently modify the game for the reader. Everything I am doing is bolt on but the door would have needed cutting. So I unscrewed the one panel left of the coin slot (which I will keep in the coin tray) and fabricated a second one. Note the slot to allow the cable to run out the back of the reader. The reader will mount to this new metal panel and nothing is modded on the door that isn't reversible.

Update. I installed the reader. By locating it here the door didn't need any permanent mods and it is in a convenient location. The 5 VDC required for the reader power was tapped from the PC power supply using a harness I built from a peripheral power supply splitter cable (red and black on the connector) and a plug I pulled from an old DC transformer. Again this is a plug in mod that just plugged into an existing unused peripheral power connector. The unit draws 300mA so not an issue to use this supply and the reader comes on when it's powered up.

Also with the suggested reader you will need a serial extension cable to make it all the way back and up and around to the computer.



I also upped the RAM to 64MB and the startup ram check is slightly longer as you said MBug but not by much I found.

The pic shows the RAM taken out on top and 2 64MB replacements. Still not sure how much was in there. I can't find how much ram is on each of the 4 Siemens HYB39S16 chips. I am guessing it was 4MB too. According to Jim Askey you require 8MB+. How much "+" I don't know but 64 (increasing by a factor of 8 ) should be enough + in my books.



I got to "Attack Mars" and defeated the ******* levels (what a blast... literally). I must say I love the fact the game makes you finish modes to really get a super score payoff in the end. I don't want to spoil anything but I had to change the way I normally hit the flipper buttons to have any success. 1 Billion + score and no way to upload it.... man I am going to have to go through that all again... happily.

Update on the Tournament system.

I have run into a stumbling block using the WRT54G which I believe is a result of the necessity to use DD-WRT Micro on that particular unit. I have run tracert's back and forth through the connection to ensure routing table and port forwarding settings of port 2069 on both the client and router are correct, then checked it against the routing tables of the router and client. I have also been able to ping the RFM anywhere within the net of the router and subnet of the client. The issue I believe comes down to the TTL (Time To Live) of the packet transfer from RFM. I believe the shortfall in the RFM code Jim mentions is a function of it being only given a 1 TTL which may be satisfactoy for locally connected RFM's but is an insufficient amount of hops to make it through the local net, out the WAN and to Jim's site. In fact I have read that most routers ignore packets sent with TTL =1. The iptables command that modifies the TTL to 64 hops appears to not be supported in the DD-WRT Micro version.

I am trying to see if I can work around the problem, but may have to find a WRT54GL in order to get the iptables command to work. I did find some mention of iptables support in a version of Micro but have yet to verify if in fact it is there. This table indicates it's supported but I have yet to be able to verify the TTL command itself is in there.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_%22DD-WRT%22%3F

If the TTL issue is the main problem with networking RFM, it would seem the best fix would be to fix the TTL problem in the original code of RFM. If this is the case then RFM could just be connected with a static IP to any router.

Wow, I haven't the patience to read your write up, let alone to what ever it is you are doing to fix what ever it is that is wrong.  

Keep up the good work,
Duane

Quoted from TwilightZone

Wow, I haven't the patience to read your write up, let alone to what ever it is you are doing to fix what ever it is that is wrong.  

Keep up the good work,
Duane

It's a pain in the neck to make work, (actually it would have been relatively easy in hindsite had I used a WRT54GL vice WRT54G) hence there are only 27 scores posted worldwide. Most of them appear to be TOPL guys playing off of Nick Angels RFM. So one RFM owned by a guy who works in the computer industry attributes to most of the scores. Do the math and figure out how many people have gotten this to work.

I am in it now just for the challenge.

Quoted from necro_nemesis

It's a pain in the neck to make work, (actually it would have been relatively easy in hindsite had I used a WRT54GL vice WRT54G) hence there are only 27 scores posted worldwide. Most of them appear to be TOPL guys playing off of Nick Angels RFM. So one RFM owned by a guy who works in the computer industry attributes to most of the scores. Do the math and figure out how many people have gotten this to work.

I am in it now just for the challenge.

Sounds like a great reason to me. Reading this makes me want to get an RFM and give it a try

Quoted from jonny_eh

Sounds like a great reason to me. Reading this makes me want to get an RFM and give it a try

Yep. I am starting to look at Sveasoft and Tomato to see if they have the iptables TTL support. I have found a few threads with people stating that DD-WRT Micro appears to not support the TTL command, but none have been confirmed on their thread.

Right now I am looking at three options. Patch the kernal (which I doubt there is sufficient room which is why it was omitted), run another 3rd party code or find a WRT54GL. The last is looking most attractive.

You wouldn't be intersted in learning XINU and fixing the original problem eh?

XINU? Nah, I don't mess with Scientologists.

Quoted from jonny_eh

XINU? Nah, I don't mess with Scientologists.

In the end I think I found out what happened with regards to these routers.

WRT54G up to V4 had 4Mb of flash memory allowing you to flash the standard DD-WRT. V5 and up have only 2Mb which is the reason you have to flash Micro. So what did they throw away to fit into the 2Mb flash? iptables-extra which includes the TTL support.

I am looking for a WRT54G V4 or earlier or a WRT54GL if anyone has one to sell (very common except I don't have one. ). This is what they look like. Sticker on the bottom has the model and version.